The GATE River Run will once again serve as the USA 15K Championship for men and women. The championship features over $56,000 in prize money with $10,000 awards for the first place male and female finishers. An equalizer gender bonus (elite women will start 6 minutes ahead of the men) of $5,000 will also be awarded to the first person to cross the finish line.
The reigning men’s champion, Leonard Korir, running for the US Army World Class Athlete Program, is returning to defend his 15K national championship title. Leonard will be racing for a three-peat after winning in 2017 (43:22) and 2018 (43:06). His key challenges should come 2018 third place finisher Martin Hehir (43:19) and from his US Army teammates; 2016 champion Stanley Kebenei (43:29) and Shadrack Kipchirchir (43:23).
Although Molly Huddle, the women’s reigning champion, is not returning, the women’s field contains several top ten finishers from last year. Fourth place finisher Chelsea Blaase (50:35), running for Hansons Brooks Distance Project, is the top returning finisher followed by Maddie Van Beek (52:12) and Bethany Sachtleben (52:17). The women’s elite field this year has much greater depth and parity which should make for a highly competitive race for the title.
Here is the full list of elite runners in the 2019 Gate River Run:
